News

Stadium prepares for summer shows

The football season ended yesterday, however Sunderland’s Stadium of Light is still a hive of activity, as work gets underway in preparation for two massive music concerts.

Concert promoters and hundreds of set-up crew have moved on-site to begin the huge task of preparing the stadium for the first of its two summer concerts - One Direction - in just under a fortnight’s.

The vast infrastructure required to host the show is currently being installed and crowd barriers, handrails, LED boards and advertising hoardings have already been removed from around the playing field. A special surface is also being laid which covers the entire pitch.

External courtyard areas, designed to house pre-show entertainment, food courts and bars are also under construction.

Sunderland AFC’s facilities manager Peter Weymes, who is overseeing the vast operation, said: “There is a huge amount of work involved in turning the stadium from a football arena to a concert venue and we only have a very short period of time to get everything done.

“The whole on-site team is working extremely hard to get the stadium ready for the band’s arriving and to ensure that it is in fantastic shape for the shows.”

Sunderland welcomes worldwide boyband sensation One Direction on May 28, followed by the North East’s biggest-ever pop concert North East Live, on June 22 - completing a spectacular music double for Wearside.

Tickets are still available for North East Live, priced from just £25. The multi-artisit pop festival features Jessie J, Rizzle Kicks, top UK girl band The Saturdays and teen sensations The Vamps and Union J. Alongside them, Jason Derulo will be jetting in from the USA to play his only outdoor UK tour dates for 2014, with chart topper Katy B, girl band Neon Jungle and Rixton completing the stellar line-up of pop acts.